![]() ![]() Netanyahu rules over the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, including both ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious parties. Israeli president says of US relationship: 'Our bond may be challenged at times, but it is absolutely unbreakable' Israeli President Isaac Herzog is greeted by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California, as he arrives to speak to a joint meeting of Congress, Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington, DC. They also warn it will harm the independence of the Israeli judiciary and will hurt rights not enshrined in Israel’s basic laws, like minority rights and freedom of expression. Israel, which has no written constitution but only a set of quasi-constitutional basic laws, has had a relatively powerful Supreme Court, which supporters of the changes argue is problematic.īut the Supreme Court is the only check on the power of the Knesset and the government, since the executive and legislative branches are always controlled by the same governing coalition.Ĭritics say the overhaul will destroy the only avenue available to provide checks and balances in the governing of the country. Proposals to change the judicial process aren’t new, as figures from across the political spectrum have in the past called for reform. Should the overhaul pass, the changes will be the most extreme shakeup to Israel’s judiciary since its founding in 1948. He denies any wrongdoing.Īnother bill, already voted through in March, makes it more difficult for a sitting prime minister to be declared unfit for office, restricting the reasons to physical or mental incapacity and requiring either the prime minister themselves, or two-thirds of the cabinet, to vote for such a declaration. They say it has overstepped its role, getting into issues it should not rule on.ĭefending his plans, the prime minister has pointed to countries like the United States, where politicians control which federal judges are appointed and approved.Ĭritics also say Netanyahu is pushing the overhaul forward to protect himself from his own corruption trial, where he faces charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust. The prime minister and his supporters argue that the Supreme Court has become an insular, elitist group that does not represent the Israeli people. Those bills have not yet advanced as far in the legislative process as the reasonableness bill. Other elements of the overhaul would give the right-wing government more control over the appointment of judges, as well as remove independent legal advisors from ministries. Netanyahu speaks out following hospitalization The standard was used this year when Netanyahu dismissed key ally Aryeh Deri from all ministerial posts, in compliance with an Israeli High Court ruling that it was unreasonable to appoint him to positions in government due to his criminal convictions and because he had said in court last year that he would retire from public life. The standard is commonly used by courts there to determine the constitutionality or lawfulness of a given legislation, and allows judges to make sure that decisions made by public officials are “reasonable.” The principle is used in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The reasonableness doctrine is not unique to Israel’s judiciary. While Netanyahu and his supporters say it is meant to rebalance powers between the branches of government, critics say it poses a threat to Israeli democracy and to the independence of the judiciary. The judicial overhaul is a package of bills that each need to pass three votes in the Knesset. The overhaul has split the country, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in protest. Lawmakers on Sunday began a marathon debate on it which lasted until the following morning. It is the first major piece of the multi-pronged judicial overhaul plan to be passed by the Knesset. The so-called reasonableness bill strips the Supreme Court of the power to declare government decisions unreasonable. ![]() All members of the opposition left the chamber while the roll call vote was taking place.Īfter rumors last week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may back down on the vote or even soften some of its components, the 73-year-old leader pushed forward with it and on Monday arrived at parliament, the Knesset, shortly after being released from hospital. The bill passed by a vote of 64-0, with all members of the governing coalition voting for it. Israel’s parliament on Monday passed the controversial “reasonableness” bill, the first major legislation in the government’s plan to weaken the judiciary, despite six months of protests and American pressure against the most significant shakeup to the court system since the country’s founding. ![]()
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